"Good-morning, good-morning—going? I beg your pardon. Won't you stop and take some tea with us?"
"Mr. Adelstone would like some dinner first, uncle," said Stella.
Then she gave him her hand.
"Good-morning," she said, "and thank you very much for the flowers."
He held her hand as long as he dared, then passed out.
Stella, perhaps unconsciously, gave a sigh of relief.
"Very nice young fellow, my dear," said Mr. Etheridge, without taking his eyes from the canvas. "Very clever, too. I remember him quite a little boy, and always said he would make his way. They say that he has done so. I am not surprised. Jasper——"
"Jasper!" said Stella. "What a horrible name."
"Eh? Horrible? I don't know—I don't know."
"But I do," said Stella, laughing. "Well, what were you going to say?"